Elastic-fluid turbine.



G. B. REARICK.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICAHON FILED MAR.9. 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES 6 =7 COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

C. B. REARICK.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9. 1914.

1,156,371. Patented Oct. 12, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES ENTOR BY w n, m mmm AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA c.

PATENT orrion.

UNITED STATES CHARLES asn vrzs nnanrex, orivnw LONDOLLCONNEGTICUT.

ELASTIC-FLUID 1UR IBINE.

T all-whom it mayiconcem. V

Be it known that I, CHARLES FBEMIS REA- RICK, a citizen of the United States, and

resident, of New London, county of New London, State of Connecticut, have made a certain new and useful Invention Relating to Elastic-Fluid'Turbines, of which the fol lowing is a'specification, taken in connection with ,the accompanying drawlng, wh ch formspart of the same.

This invention relates especially to elastic fluid turbines in which the turbine wheel may be provided with friction driw'e :members and also with impulse blades to act upon .the motive fluid after it has been engaged by the friction :dr'ivemembers if desired. The friction drive members or plates ening shroud ring may be in the form ofssubstantial'ly.circum ferentially; arranged r'ings'paf desired, and closely spaced between primary impulse members or vanes which .may'interloc'k with the drive plates and exert' a imutua'lly retaining action thereon and also serve to guide the motive fluid in a somewhat curved path as it moves forward and across the wheel before being engaged by the impulse blades which absorb still further energy therefrom. The friction .drive. plates and the primary impulse vanes :and impulse blades may be arrangedYbetween and secured to thexwheel rim and alheavy strengthon the outside to give the wheel increased strength. i

In the accompanying drawings showing an illustrative embodimentofftliis invention in a somewhat diagrammaticWayQFigure 1 is a vertical axial section through a turbine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View showing a nozzle member and cotiperatin-g wheel portions. 'Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic transverse section through the-wheel portion shown in Fig. 2 the. line of section passing between the sets of impulse vanes. Fig. 4:

i is an enlarged detail cross-section taken substantially along the line of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a transverse section showing an-, other form .of turbine wheel in which a second set of impulse blades are employed beyond anin-teripos'ed setof stationary guide blades. I

The turbine casing may :beof any :desired for-1n and-construction, such for. example, as indicated m Fig. r1 as compris ngthe longitudinally divided casing having aseries of part1t1ons,-such as 2, "10,'to form the desired number .of wheel" chambers 111 connection Specification of L sr tem. Patented'0ct.12,,191-5. Application'file'd March 9, 1914. SeriaINo. 823,398.

in the other section of the casing. The

steam may be admitted in any suitable way to the steam chest or admission passage 4 which may be integral with the. wheel cas- With the corresponding partitions, such as 3,

ing which may also be provided with an eX- I .haust "passage is? integral therewith, if desired. The casing may beformed with suitable recesses in'which thepacking or earing members '7 may be'supported to coiiperate properly with the-turbine-shaft l on which theldesired number of wheels 8, 9 may be arranged in anysuitable way. Aser es of .the desired number of nozzle members, such as 5, may be arranged to cooperate with the to cooperate with the lower pressurewheel 9 and these nozzle members maybe support .ed in any suitable way in connection with primary wheel 8 and a similar series of sec ondary nozzle members 12 maybe arranged the wheel preferably byinounting the nozzle lmembersin suitable ali'ned'no zzle apertures bored or"otherw1se formed so as to extend longitudinally "through the casing sections. The nozzle members 5 may for instance 'be secured in a'lined position by suitable bolts,

such as "50, or if desired a suitable bushing. such as '11 may projectthrough the corresponding nozzle aperture and be threaded or otherwise secured to one of these nozzle members, such as '12, and then be brought'up into the desired alined holding position by the set screws or otherifastening means 51 indicated in connection therewith.

' Each of the :turbine wheels which may be hold them in position andto form a more.

or iless'flaring passageacross the wheel between the shroud'rin'g' and the wheel rim itself; In this way any friction drive plates f or members may be conveniently mounted formed of any suitable material andshape in this flaring passage and may be effectively arranged an'dfheld in the desired closely spaced relation by any suita-ble means and it is of course understood that ltjiS not necessary in all cases that these friction drive plates should be of exactly circumferential.

sagearea adjacent its receiving portion which may cooperate with the series of nozzles, such as 6, which may be of the flaring expansion type. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the receiving ends of these friction drive plates may be stepped back on the outer and inner sides of the wheel passage so as to form an inclined stepped back arrangement as indicated which progressively interposes more and more of these friction drive blades in the path of the motive fluid entering the flaring wheel passage and passing through the narrow fluid channels 27 which are made sufficiently narrow or otherwise arranged so as to give the desired amount of frictional engagement or grip between the steam and these frictional drive members. It is desirable in some cases tohavethe discharge ends 24 ofthese friction drive plates out of line or stepped back and the" inclined stepped back arrangement of the lateral plates mavbe used in this instance also as shown in Fig. 8. It is desirable to have the direction of the steam jets acting on these friction drive members such as to make a relatively low angle with the direction of movement of the wheel so as to utilize a correspondinglv large proportion of the driving eflect exerted on these frictional members bv the motive fluid. V

.A convenient and desirable way to space these f ction d ive plates apart is .to interpose between them suitable spacing members wh ch are preferably given a suitably curved form so as to s multaneously act as lmpulse vanes or members and guide the steam passing between the drive plates across the wheel in the desired way. These impulse vanes. such as 31, may be formed of somewhat flexible sheet metal of suitably curved fo m so as. to utilize the desired amount of impulse driving actionof the motive fluid and these impulse yanes maybe of such width throughout their various portions as to secure a considerable lateral. flaring of the thin channels between them as the motive fluid 'moves across the wheel and .thus allowfor the extent of velocity reducon these plates Where they coiiperate with and thus more effectively utilize the energysuitable impulse blades on the turbine wheeis 'ofits energy after its velocity has'be'en cenconnection, a somewhat diagrammatic form of its passage acting on friction drive menu lugs, such as 28, on the impulse varies and forming correspondingly spaced sockets 29 in the drive plates 22 so that the entire series of drive plates and interposed flexible impulse vanes are securely locked together throughouttheir various portions so as to be rigidly held in proper positionabetweeni the wheel rim and shroud ring outside.

It is of course desirable to have all the friction drive plates extend throughout the: entire or practically the entireextent of the interposed impulse vanes so that any stepped back ends'of the drive plates are given curved form so that suitable supporting; tongues or extensions, such as 54, are formed impulse vanes as shown at the bottom of Fig. 2. It is of course understood that any desired number of turbine wheels provided with such frictiondrive plates or members may be arranged in differentwheel chambers so as to have as many stages as desired of the motive fluid either with or without, any other form of blades'orvanes on. wheels. It is however desirable to armada.

in connection with the friction drive pla A or menibers described so as to utilize a greater; proportion of the energy of the mom fluid in a single wheel. and thus minimifi the number of stages required for thedesired turbine efficiency. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for example,- a series of impulse blades such as 16, may be arranged between the wheel rim and shroud ring so as to be acted upon by the steam or other motive fluid after it has passed through the friction drive members and utilize an additional amount siderablv reduced. Any suitable number we shape'of impulse blades may be used in this of blade being shown in the drawing as arranged in line with each of the sets primary impulse anes and also interposed between them so as to' form a larger number of blade passages 21 which turn the motiu fluid so as to discharge it from the wheel laterally, at relatively low velocity. In this? way a gradual flaring passage for the motive fluid is formed extending forward and across the wheel, the motive fluid in the first par? bers preferably having a slight impulse" action and then acting on a second set of in! pulse blades before being discharged from the wheel. It is possible in this wayQas-ii usually desirable. to have the steam path through the friction and blade members ar ranged with a constantly increasing areas?! as to compensate for the gradual low of velocityas the. steam passes across the wheel. For this reason the wheel rim and shroud; 7 ring may be formed with portions, such as 4 adjacent, the beveled or sharpened stepped back discharge ends24 of the friction drive platesiso that the effective .area of this portion, 26 of the passage; may be correspondingly adjusted. The action, may be readily seen by reference toFig. 2, the steam from. the upper nozzle} lllustrated moving along; the line A.A asit entersthe Wheel members and. allowing for the forwardn' ovement of the wheeh passing along some such modified curved line as BB, asindi cated by the arrows, the firstpart of its path through the friction drive portion of; the

wheel taking place in approximately the so as to act effectively on the'largervolume of fluid issuing from the nozzles 13 cooper- If desired also each ating with this wheel. wheel may be arranged with several, rows of impulse blades as shown in Fig; ,5where-the wheel rim is shown as extended so as to-sup- 'r-ort a series of friction drive platesormemhers and the first set of impulse blades 36 in connection therewith and also a second.- set V of impulse blades 38' spaced away, frolll the first so that the direction'of the motive fluid may be reversed by an interposed series of stationary reversing'blades, suchas 37. If desired, these reversing, blades may [be supported on suitable extensions 33 integral with or otherwise mounted on the nozzle members i5, althoughthey'may of; coursebe su 'iported-in any other suitable way. Such an arrangement of course utilizes in a single wheel. a still larger proportion of the energy of the motive fluid so as to be more desirable for. some simple single stage turbine cou structions.

This invention has been described in connection with a number ofillustrative embodiments. forms, arrangements, propor5 tions, materials, and parts, to the details of: which disclosure the invention is not of course to be limited, since what is claimed as new and what-is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is Set'forth in; the appended claims. 7 V e V 1. In elastic fluid turbines,ga nozzle mem-' her having expanding nozzles, a cotiperatingturbine wheel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection with said Wheel mat f m flar'ing n lar pa sa e extending across-the wheel, a-series of thin annular friction drive platesarranged in spa ced relation in said fiaring passage, a series of curved impulse vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive plates and formed with integral retaining lugsto interlock with sockets inx'saidplates, the receivingqendsof said plates being beveled and arranged in inclined stepped back position. to be engaged progressively by the motive fluid entering said flaring passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the vmotive fluid, of progressively increasing width as the motive fluid moves across the wheel, there being projecting supporting tongues on. the steppedback ends'of said plates to cooperate with the ends of said interposed vanes, and a series of impulse blades arranged between said wheel rim and said shrcuding ring; beyond the discharge ends of, said friction drive plates to beacted on by the motive fluid, discharged by the frictional drive members. ,1 V i h r V 2. elastic fluid turbines, a. nozzle mem-'- her having nozzles, a cooperating turbine I wheel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supportedin connection with saidwheel rim to form a flaring annular passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring-passage, a series of curvedim pulse vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive plates and formed with integral retaining lugs to interlock with sockets in said plates, the receiving ends of said plates being beveled and arranged 'in inclined stepped back position to be engaged-progressively by the motive fluid entering said flaring passage to provide a seriesof narrow channels for themotive fluid of pro gressively increasing width as the motive fluid moves across the wheel, and a series of impulse blades arranged between said wheel rim and said shroudmg rm g beyond the d scharge ends of SiLlCl friction drive plates to beacted on by themotive fluid discharged by I the frictional} drive members. V

' In elastic fluid turbines, anozzle memv her having nozzles, a cooperating turbine wheelhaying a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to; form a flaring annular passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage, a series of curved impulse vanes interposed between adjacent friction driveplates to provide a seriesof'i narrow channelsfor'themotive fluid of in-f, creasing width as thehi no'tive flu d moves across thewheel, and aseries of impulsev blades beyond the discharge ends of said friction drive plates to be acted on by the motive fluid discharged by the frictional drive members.

Inelastic fluid turbines, aturbine wheel 7 Y said flaringj passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid as the motive fluid moves across the wheel.

5. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to form a flaring annular passage extending across the'wheel, a series of thin annular friction drive plates arranged inspaced relation in said flaring passage, a series of curved impulse vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive plates and formed with integral retaining lugs to interlock with' sockets in said plates to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid as the motive fluid moves across the wheel. I

6. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having an annular passage extending'across the wheel, a series of'thin annular friction drive platesarranged in spaced relation in said passage, a series of curved impulse vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive 7 plates and formed with integral retaining lugs to interlock with sockets in said plates to providea series of narrow channels for the motive fluid as the motive fluid moves across the wheel.

'1'. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having an annular passage extending across the wheel, a seriesof thin annular friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said passage, a ser es of impulse vanes inter-5 posed between adjacent friction drive plates and formed with integral retaining lugs'to interlock with'sockets in said plates to provide a series of narrow channels for the mo-' tive fluid as the motive fluid moves across the wheel.

8 In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheelhaving an annular passage extending acrossthe wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said passage, a series of impulse vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive plates and formed with integral retaining means cooperating with said plates to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid as the motive fluid moves across the wheel.

9. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine" wheel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection )Vltll sa1d wheel rim to formja flaring annular passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin annular friction drive plates, arranged in vide a series of narrow 'them' across the wheel, there being project- 'inclined stepped back'position to be en- 'sa'ge to provide a series of narrow channels interposed vanes.

spaced relation in said flaring passage,'a, series of curved impulsevanes interposed between adjacent friction drive plates and form'ed'with integral retaining lugs to in terlock with sockets in said plates, the receiving ends of said plates being beveled and arranged-in inclined stepped back position i to be engaged progressively by the motive fluid entering said flaring passage to pro channels for the motive fluid of rogressively increasing width as the motive fluid moves through ing supporting tongues on the stepped back ends of said plates to cooperate with the ends of said interposed vanes; v

10. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine" wheel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to form a flaring annular passage extending'across the wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in's aid flaringpassage, a series of im' pulse vanes interposed between adjacent; friction drive plates and formed with integral retaining lugs to interlock with sockets insaid plates, the receiving ends of said plates being beveled and arranged in" gaged progressively by the motive fluid entering said flaring passage to provide .a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid of progressively increasing width as the motive fluid moves through themacross the wheel, there being projecting I supporting tongues on the tep back ends of Said plates to cooperate with the ends of said interposed vanes.

11. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine .j wheel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection v ith said wheel rim to form a flaring annular passage extending across the wheel, aseries of thin friction drive plates arranged inispaced relation in said flaring passage, a series of imy I pulse; vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive plates and formed with in tegral retaining lugs to interlock' with sockets in said plates, the receiving ends of said plates being arranged in stepped back position to be engaged progressively by; j the motive'fluid entering said flaring pasfor the motive fluid of increasing width as the'motive fluid moves through them across i the wheel, there being projecting supporting: tongues on the stepped back ends of said plates to cooperate with the ends of 12. In. elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having a flaring passage extending across 'the wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation to"- said flaring-passage, a series of'impulse vanesinterposed between adjacent frictidl drive plates andfo'rmed with integral retaining lugs to interlock with sockets in said plates,-the receiving ends of said plates being arrangediin stepped back position. to

entering said flaring passage to provide a vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive plates and formed with integral retaining lugs to interlock .with sockets in said plates, the receiving ends-of said plates being arranged in steppedback position to be engaged, progressively by the motive fluid entering said flaring passageto'provide a series of narrow channels "for-the motive fluid of increasing width as the mlotive fluid moves through them across the wheel.

14. In elastic fluid turbinesya turbine wheel having a wheel rim, -a shroudingring supported in connection with said wheel'rim to form alflaring annular passage, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation ,in said flaring passage, a series of'impulse vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive pla'tesand formed with integral retaining lugs to interlock withsockets in said plates, the receiving ends-of said platesbeing beveledand arranged in inclined stepped back position to beengaged progressively the motive fluid entering said 5 flaring passage to provide a series of narrow channels 'for 'the motive fluid of progressivelyincrea'sing width as the motive fluid moves through them, there being projecting supporting tongues on the stepped back ends of said'pla tes to coiiperate wit-h the ends of said interposed vanes.

I 15. In elastic fluid :turbines, a turbine wheel having a wheel rim,:'ajshroiiding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to form a flaring annular passage, 21' series of thin frictionjdrive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage, a

series of impulse vanes'interposed between adjacent friction driv plates "and formed with integral retaining lugs to interlockwitli sockets in said plates, the receiving ends of said plates being arranged in stepped back position to be engaged progressively by themotive fluid entering said flaring passage to provide ra series of narrow channels for the motive.fliiidpfincreasing width asthe motivefluidmoves through them, there being projecting supporting tongues on the stepped; backiends. of said plates to cooperate with the ends of said interposed vanes. Y I i6 In elastic fluid turbines, (a turbine wheel having a flaring'passage, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage, a series of impulsevanes' interposed between adjacent friction drive platesand formed with integral retaining lugs to interlock with sockets in said plates, the receiving ends of said plates being-arranged in stepped back position to be engaged progressively by the motive fluidentering said flaring passage to provide a series of narrow channels forthe motive fluid" of increasing width as the motive fluid moves through them, there be-v ing projecting supporting tongues on the stepped back ends of said plates to coiiperate with said interposedvanes.

' 1'7.'In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine whe'el'having a flaring passage, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage, a series of impulse vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive plates and formed with integral retaining lugs to interlock with sockets in said plates, the receiving'endsof said plates being arranged in stepped back position to be engaged progressively by'tlie inotive fluid entering said flaring passage toprovide a series-of narrow-channels for the motive fluid of increasing width as the motive fluid moves through them.

18. In elastic fliiidturbines, a turbine.

\cheelhaving a wheel rim, a shrouding 'ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to form a flaring annular passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin annular friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage, a series'of curved impulse vanes ,interposedbetween adjacent friction drive plates, the receiving ends of said plates being beveled to be en-. gaged by the motive fluid entering said flar ing passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid of progressively increasing width as the motive fluid moves across the wheel.

.:.;19. In elastic fliiid turbines, a turbine wheel having a wheel rim, a shroudingring supported in connection with said wheelrim to form a flaring annular passage extendingacross the wheel, aseries of thin annular friction drive plates arranged'in spaced relation in said flaring passage to provide a seriesof narrow channels "for the motive fluid of progressively increasing width as the motive fluid moves across the wheel.

20. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine w ieel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to form a flaring annular passage extending across the wheel, a: series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relationin said flaring ipassage toprovide a series of 21. In elastlc fluid. turbines, a turbine wheel having a wheel min, a shrouding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to form a flaring annular passage extending across the wheel, a serles of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring'passage, the receiving ends of said plates arranged in stepped back position to be engaged progressively by the .motive fluid entering said flaring passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid of increasing width as the motive fluid moves across the wheel.

22. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine .wheel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to' form a flaring annular passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage, the receiving ends of said plates being beveled and arranged in stepped back position to be engaged progressively by the motive fluid entering said flaring passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid of increasing width as the motive fluid moves across the wheel.

23. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine 'wheel'having a flaring annular passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin welded annular friction drive members arranged in spaced relation in said passage, a series of interposed impulse vanes to provide a series of, narrow channels for the motive fluid of progressively increasing width as the motive fluid moves across the wheel.

24. In elastic fluid turbines, va turbine. wheel having an annular passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin welded annular friction drive members arranged in spaced relation in said passage to provide.

a seriesof narrow channels for the motive fluid asthe motive fluid moves across the wheel. I

, 25. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having an annular passage extending across thewheel, a series of thin annular friction drive members arranged in spaced relation in said passage, to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid as the motive fluid moves across the wheel. J V 26. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having an annular passage extending across the wheel, a series. of thin Welded friction drive members arranged in spaced relation in said passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid as the motive fluid moves across the wheel.

g by the frictional drive members.

7 moves through them across the wheel, andia arranged in said passa e and having approximately parallel a jacent surfaces,- to provide a series of narrow flaring chan- 'nels free from abrupt changes of directions for the motive fluid as the motive fluid 0 moves across the Wheel, and a series of im- I pulse bladesarranged on said wheel to be acted on by thermotive fluid discharged by the frictional drive members, the effective area of said channels and the'passages between said impulse blades varying in substantial proportion to "the. decrease of ve-' locity of the motive fluid as it moves across the wheel. I I I 28.. In elastic fluid turbines, a 'turbinewheel having a flaring passageextending across the wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage, a series of impulse vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive plates and formed with integral re.- taining lugs to interlock with sockets in said plates, the receiving ends of said plates be- 3 ing arranged in stepped back position to be engaged progressively by the motive fluid entering said flaring passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid of increasing width as the motive fluid moves through them across the wheel, there being projecting supporting tongues on the Q stepped back ends of said plates to coop} or ate with said interposed vanes, and a series; of impulse blades arranged on said wheel. to be acted on by the motive fluid discharged! 29. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine. wheel having aflaring passage extending. across the wheel, a series of thin friction drive lates arranged inspaced relation in a 6* said aring passage, a series of impulses? vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive plates and formed with integral is taining lugs .to interlock with-sockets "in; said plates, the receiving ends of said tee being arranged in stepped back position tdma be engaged pro essively by the motive fluid j entering said aring passage to provide 1; series of-narrow channels for the motive fluid of increasing width as the motive fluidla series of impulse blades arranged on saifi' i wheel to be acted on by the motive fluid'dis charged by the frictional drive members 30. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having a flaring passage, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage, a series at impulse vanes interposed between adjaoeni I'riction drive plates and formed with tegral retaining lugs to interlock with ets in said plates, the'receiving ends of sai plates being arranged in stepped back posi tion to be engaged progressively by the mo tive fluid enterin said'flaring'passage provide a series 0 narrow channels forthi motive fluid of increasing Width as the motive fluid moves through them, there being,

projecting supporting tongues on the stepped baclr ends of said plates to cooper ate with said interposed vanes, anda series of impulse blades arranged on said Wheel t( be acted on by the motive fluid discharged by the frictional drivemembers.

'31. In elastic fluidturbines, a turbine wheel having a flaring passage, a series of f thin friction drive'plates arranged in spaced tive fluid moves through them, and a seriesof impulse blades arranged onsaid wheel to beacted on by the'motive fluid discharged by the frictional drive members.

32. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having a wheel rim, a'shrouding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim form a flaring annular passage extending .i oss the wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage .to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid of in creasing width as the motive fluid moves across the wheel, and a series of impulse.

blades arranged on said wheel to be acted on by the motive fluid discharged by the frictional drive members. 7 I i 33. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to form a flaring annular passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage, the receiving ends of said plates arranged in stepped back position to be engaged progressively by the motive fluid entering said flaring passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid of increasing width as the motive fluid moves across the wheel, and a series of impulse blades arranged on said wheel to be acted on by the motive fluid discharged by the frictional drive members.

34. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine u heel having an annular passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin welded frict on drive members arranged in spaced relation in said passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid as the motive fluid moves across thewheel, and a series of impulse blades arranged on said wheel to be acted on by the motive fluid dis charged by the frictional drive members.

85. In. elastic fluid turbines, a turbine rate,"

wheel havingapassage extending across the wheel, aseries of friction drive members arranged lItSELlCl passage and having approximately parallel adjacent surfaces,. to s provide a series of narrow channels free f1 om abrupt changes of 7 direction for the motive fluid as the motive fluid moves across the wheel, and a series of impulse blades arranged on said wheel to be acted on by the motive fluid discharged, by the frictional drive members. i

36'. In elastic fluid turbines, a wheel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to form a flaring annular passage extending across the Wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in saidflaring passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid of increasing width as the motive fluid moves across the wheel, and a series of impulse,

turbine.

blades arranged onsaid wheel to be acted on by the motive fluid discharged by the frictional drive members, and a plurality of annular series of impulse blades arranged on said wheel to be acted on by the motive fluid discharged from the frictional drive members and interposedstationary reversing' blades between each successive series of impulseblades.

- 37. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine \vheel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to form a flaring annular passage eX-' tending across the wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage, the receiving ends of said plates arranged in stepped back position to be engaged progressively by the motive fluid entering said flaring passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid of increasing width as the motive fluid moves across the wheel, and a plurality of annular series of impulse blades arranged on said wheel to be acted on by the motive fluid discharged from the frictional drive members and interposed stationary reversing blades between each successive series of impulse blades.

38. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having an annular passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin welded friction drive members arranged in spaced relation in said passage to provide aseries of narrow channels for the motive fluid as the motive fluid moves across the wheel, and a plurality of annular series of impulse blades arranged on said wheel to be acted on by the motive fluid discharged from the frictional drive members and interposed stationary reversing blades between each successive ranged in said passage, to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid as the motive flu'id moves across the wheel, and a plurality of annular series of impulse blades arranged on said wheel to be acted on by the motive fluid discharged from the frictional drive members and interposed station- 7 ary reversing blades between each successive serles of impulse blades.

40. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having a flaring passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in through them across the channel, the effective area of said channels varying in substantial proportion to the decrease of velocity of the motive fluid as it moves across the Wheel.

a1; In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having a wheel rim, a shrouding ring supported in connection with said wheel rim to form a flaring annular passage extending across the wheel, a series of thin friction drii e plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage to provide a series of narrow channels for the motive fluid of in- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

creasing-width as the motive fluid moves across the Wheel, the efl'ective areaof said channels varying in substantial proportion to the decreaseof velocity of the motive fluid" as it moves across the wheel. I V

42. In elastic fluid turbines, a turbine wheel having a flaring passage, a series oi thin friction drive plates arranged in spaced relation in said flaring passage, a series at impulse vanes interposed between adjacent friction drive. plates and formed with integral retaining lugs to interlock with sockets insaid plates, the receiving ends of said plates being arranged in stepped back' position to be engagedprogressively by the motive fluid entering said flaring passage to provide a series of narrow. channels for the motive fluid of increasing width as the m0- tive fluid movesthrough them, there being projecting supporting. tongues on the stepped M back ends of said plates to cooperate with said interposed'vanes, and a series of impulse blades arranged on said Wheel to be acted on by the motive fluid dischar ed by" the frictional: drive members, the eflectiva, area of said channels and the passages be tween said impulse blades varying in substantial proportion to the decrease of velocity of the motive fluid as it moves across the wheel.

CHARLES BEMIS REARICK.

Witnesses: V a

7 HARRY L. DUNCAN, I Jnssm B. KAY.

Washington, D. O. 

